January 23, 2013: While under trusteeship and controlled by a Hoffa appointee, Local 630 signed a side-agreement that created a new job classification paying $10 per hour below the contract wage. The agreement is with US Foods, a company that employs Teamsters all over the country, and undermines Teamster standards in the warehouse division.
The cut-rate wage is in regards to a new machine called a Robo Wrapper. The new machine does work currently performed by Teamster order selectors who make the contract wage.
"New technology is constantly being introduced into the warehouse industry and we can't allow it to destroy good Teamster jobs," says Ricardo Huitron, Local 630 member employed at US Foods-Los Angeles.
No vote of the members was permitted on this wage-cut agreement made in November 2012.
The International Union needs to maintain Teamster warehouse standards and prevent sell out deals—not allow them to happen under their watch. The Hoffa administration should repudiate this deal now, before it spreads like cancer.
You can see the side-agreement for yourself by clicking here.